Christmas cheer across NSW Health, Santa visits and health elves joining in on the festivities |
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As we head toward the end of 2022, I want to first and foremost acknowledge, and sincerely thank, every single staff member and volunteer within NSW Health for everything you do every single day of every year. Our health system is nothing without you and our state owes you all a debt of gratitude.
This year has been particularly challenging with the ongoing challenges of managing COVID-19, including the the furloughing of thousands of staff while continuing to care for those who need us most. And sadly, to add to that we have had terrible weather events and flooding that have caused so much destruction for so many communities and people, including our own staff.
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There really are no words that can fully describe the depth of respect that we feel toward you for all that you do but please know that in every part of this vast health system you mean the world to those you care for and to me.
While many businesses start slowing down in December, I want to acknowledge that as a health system, our work is never done. Some will be taking a well-deserved break but I want to especially thank the people who will continue to care for our patients over the festive season. This edition highlights how staff are bringing the festive spirit to their teams, patients and their families. Hours have been spent decorating, donating, carolling and dancing to spread joy and bring cheer to those spending the festive season away from home.
How ever you choose to celebrate this time of year, please stay safe. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and the very best for the New Year. Kind regards,
Susan Pearce
Secretary, NSW Health
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Executives in the festive spirit |
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We asked some of our executive staff members to share what they want for Christmas. Watch the video to find out what is on their Christmas list! |
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NSW Health staff are getting creative this festive season.
The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) held their inaugural Film Festival Competition. The brief; to create a short film to 'Spread Christmas Cheer.' The challenge; to include a Christmas ornament in their film.
Budding film makers from across the district responded with passionate performances, witty scripts and crazy costumes.
Congratulations to the Calvary Community and Palliative Care Team for their winning film. Special mention to the Prince of Wales Hospital’s Occupational Therapy Team and Sutherland Hospital Southcare’s Geriatric Flying Squad as the runners up.
Check out the winning and runner up festive videos below. |
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Many people will be celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Light. Hanukkah began on Sunday and will continue to Monday 26 December.
During this time, people celebrating Hanukkah follow many different traditions such as lighting the Menorah or playing the Dreidel. Happy Hanukkah! Wishing you a blessed and joyful time of festivities. |
| Star of David, Dreidel, Menorah |
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When walking through the heavy double doors into the paediatric unit at Blacktown Hospital, the first thing you see are twinkling lights covering the ceiling, delicate handmade snowflakes, and meters of snow frosted vines.
The Winter Wonderland Ward came to life with the help of the Ward Angels charity. Ward Angels help bring light into hospital wards with seasonal gifts and decorations throughout the year. The charity was founded by Josie Dincel who had spent one Christmas in hospital with her sick child. “The days are so long when you’re in hospital with a sick child, and when that day is broken up with a little moment of joy, it can be the difference between having a nice memory or a sad memory," Josie said.
Josie, her team, and the help of her elvish friend, Sarah Edwards, Acting Nurse Unit Manager of the paediatric unit at Blacktown Hospital, went full force to decorate the ward.
Hours were spent threading paper snowflake chains and hanging them up around the ward, even the children were able to join in on the fun.
“The joy that Christmas brings to children makes their hospital stay just a little bit nicer. To see the smiles on their faces when the room lit up made it all worthwhile," Sarah said. |
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| Winter Wonderland at Blacktown Hospital paediatric unit |
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| Name: Santa Claus
Role: Present delivery expert Reindeer trainer Professional sleigh driver Now, let’s get to know you a little better…
What are three words your family and friends would use to describe you? Festive, generous and jolly! Last great TV show or movie you watched? The Grinch Favourite book or podcast? The Night Before Christmas
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be? How to eat less cookies and eat more vegetables. |
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If you’re cooking dinner, what will everyone be eating?
Lamb roast with mash potatoes and pavlova for dessert. And some carrots too, for the reindeer! Any hidden talents?
I always know who's been naughty or nice. |
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It’s been another challenging year for our NSW Health Pathology teams right across the state.
Yet again, our pathologists, scientists, technicians, couriers, collectors and pathology support staff have worked diligently through fires, floods and a global pandemic to deliver quality pathology and forensic services to our partners in the health and justice systems.
To celebrate and wish their colleagues well, NSW Health Pathology created this festive video for all to see! |
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Santa's helpers at Hornsby
Nurses at the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital have been spotted in their elf uniforms!
The emergency department and paediatric unit have been fulfilling their elvish duties this festive season by helping to spread joy in their bright and colourful uniforms. |
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Emergency nurses at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital |
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Paediatric staff at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital |
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Cheeky elf at Campbelltown Hospital Campbelltown Hospital has welcomed a special – and cheeky – festive visitor. ‘Health the Elf' is popping up across the hospital campus, greeting staff, patients and visitors with a cheeky smile.
So far, Health the Elf has popped into the hospital’s concierge area, security department, cancer services and retail stores and even donned a hard hat and high-vis vest to meet the redevelopment construction team.
Campbelltown Hospital General Manager Grant Isedale said Elf was the talk of the hospital. “You never know where he will pop up next. He keeps us all guessing,’’ Grant said.
Visit the Campbelltown Hospital Facebook page to see what Health the Elf is up to. |
Health the Elf at Campbelltown Hospital reception (top), operating theatres (bottom) and pharmacy (right) |
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A stop at Westmead With only a few days until Christmas, Santa took a break from his work in the North Pole to visit The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
Santa stopped by to say hello and drop off a few early Christmas presents to some kids who had been extra nice this year. |
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Santa with patients at The Children's Hospital Westmead |
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Festive magic at John Hunter Santa stopped by the John Hunter Children’s Hospital to visit a special little elf, Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in August this year and will be spending Christmas in hospital with his Mum, Dad and two siblings.
Santa's visit is part of the 12 Days of Christmas Appeal helping to bring light to those in need during the festive season.
Watch Ezekiel light up the Christmas tree with Santa. |
| Santa with Ezekiel and Ezekiel's parents |
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Staff, patients and visitors joined together for some Christmas cheer at the Westmead Gala Christmas Carols Concert. Guests listened to the beautiful sounds of Christmas performed by the Westmead Occasional Choir and the Westmead Baroque Many of the performers are staff who work across the Western Sydney Local Health District who want to celebrate the festive season with their colleagues and community. |
Performers at the Westmead Gala Christmas Carols Concert |
| The 1RR Choir have been spreading festive cheer through song all December.
Choir organiser and Executive Assistant, Activity Based Management, Cathy Buykx shared that everyone in the choir is different. "Some are professionally or classically trained whereas others are rockstars in their car or shower singers. Regardless of training, we bond over our joy of singing." "What excites me is that each year it evolves to become something new" Cathy said.
Hear the festive cheer of the 1RR choir here. |
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Sleighing the competition |
NSW Ambulance staff have entered into a festive Christmas competition.
NSW Ambulance stations, control centres, workshops, aeromedical bases and offices were given the opportunity to take part in the annual workplace Christmas decorations competition. Staff used all of their creativity to transform their workplaces into Santa's workshop. The winning team will receive a large hamper of Christmas goodies to share with their colleagues. On behalf of everybody who works at NSW Ambulance, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. |
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Prince of Wales staff with special shoeboxes for Christmas |
| Scalpels, sutures and masks are usually the items that are delivered to the Prince of Wales Hospital.
But staff received an unusual delivery of more than 600 shoeboxes, each wrapped in Christmas paper and filled with little Christmas gifts. This is the second year of these special shoeboxes. Mental Health Nurse at Prince of Wales says they have proven to be a hit.
“For a lot of people, the box is the only present they receive, and it means a lot to them,” Keith said. |
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More than 600 vulnerable people will receive a shoebox with a handwritten card inside. "The response from the community has been phenomenal,” Keith said. People rolled in on the back of trucks, on pushbikes, or with prams to deliver their shoebox filled with Christmas cheer.
The appeal builds on the success of Keith’s Closet - a not-for-profit charity based at Prince of Wales Hospital that helps to provide people in need with clothing, toiletries, accessories and homewares.
This service is not only providing essential items, but it improves self-esteem, confidence and instils hope for the future. “We want everyone to have a sense of being loved this Christmas,” Keith said. |
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Party with mermaids, unicorns and astronauts |
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Superheroes, mermaids, unicorns and astronauts were just some of the magical characters at The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and Westmead Party Day.
The two hospitals celebrated their annual Party Day. A much-anticipated event where staff deck out the wards and departments with fun decorations to bring a little extra magic to children and their families over the festive season.
See the wards transform into oceans, magical forests, Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, outer space and more on The Children's Hospital at Westmead and the Sydney Children's Hospitals, Randwick Facebook pages.
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Children in their Party Day costumes |
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Joy at Justice Health
Justice Health nurses and staff have put their elf hats on to make their health centres feel warm and jolly this festive season.
Many patients are unable to see family or friends during this time so to make sure no one feels lonely, our jolly Justice Health staff decorate the wards to bring hope. |
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Santa's chair at Glen Innes |
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Christmas hall at Macquarie |
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD).
District Coordinator Senior Medical and Dental Recruitment and eCredential Administrator Sheridan O’Brien always sets the bar high when it comes to festive decorations.
"If it blinks, baubles or is battery operated, it's going in the office," Sheridan said. “I just love Christmas and the joy decorations bring to my colleagues." |
| Sheridan O'Brien at Santa's workshop |
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HETI Nursing and Midwifery Education Scholarships
Thinking about enrolling in a Graduate Certificate Course in Nursing? NSW Health registered nurses and midwives with one year postgraduate clinical experience can apply for a scholarship to study: - Acute Care Nursing
- Aged Care Nursing
- Cancer Care Nursing
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Child and Family Health
- Perioperative Care Nursing
- Rural Nursing
- Special Care Nursery
Applications close 23 January 2023. Check course information, eligibility requirements and how to apply here. |
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COVID-19 information update Read the full Clinical Intelligence Unit Evidence Digest here. |
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We acknowledge the Aboriginal traditional custodians of the land in which we live and work and pay respects to all Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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